As the Novato Unified School District adjusts to a new program of innovative lessons and curricula, one newcomer and three incumbents are competing Nov. 5 for the opportunity to help lead the district through the transition.

Derek Knell, a longtime board member and businessman, Maria Aguila, a social worker and newcomer to the board, and Shelly Scott, a deputy assessor and board member, are squaring off against challenger Miguel Garza, an eligibility worker, for three open seats on the school board.

All four agreed that the No. 1 issue facing the district was the Common Core Standards. The new standards have been adopted by most states including California, and aim to increase the quality and consistency of education nationally and help students develop the skills needed for college and the workforce.

To implement the new program successfully, "we need to prioritize personnel, time and equipment," said Knell. "We should hire personnel with training and expertise in the implementation of technology." Technology is a key component of Common Core.

"We need to purchase software and hardware such as projectors, whiteboards, iPads for students," Knell said. The "time" component of his priorities means "directing administrators and teachers to spend time teaching students how to use technology."

Scott noted, "We (the board) have been doing a lot to see that Common Core is implemented successfully. We purchased equipment and instructional materials so our teachers are ready. We put wifi on all our school sites.

"Last year our district piloted a course with the state around math and language. With that piloting we were able to align our math and language arts programs with Common Core. It was a fantastic opportunity for our teachers and our students," Scott said.

For math lessons, the standards emphasize greater depth of understanding of concepts, less memorization and more real-world challenges. More nonfiction texts and literacy in history and science are called for in English instruction.

"We need to make sure our teachers are trained in the new standards, because if the teacher is not trained, the student is not going to learn. My job as a board member would be to make sure we hire new teachers who are trained in the standards and to make sure our current teachers are being trained," said Aguila.

Garza agreed, adding, "We need to inform parents on what their roles are in this new frontier. They play a vital role in making it succeed."

Another new development facing the schools is the Local Control and Accountability Plan, which is part of the state budget's education provisions.

"We're being told, 'Here's more of a lump sum of general monies,'" Knell said. "We're not being forced to spend in certain areas, but we are still going to be held accountable for how we spend the money. We're going to use a Local Control Accountability Plan developed between parents, the board, faculty and staff."

Knell said the way to get this plan to succeed is by making sure parents have a voice.

"From my perspective what has always been missing is to get parents and community members to show up to contribute their opinions and personal expertise, so I will be working to help the community have an equal say at the table" as to how the money is spent, Knell said.

With more flexibility on how to distribute money, "we are going to have a lot of programs hoping to get some of that money," Aguila said.

"For me the priority is to budget based on the children's needs. Classrooms come first, then teachers, then materials," Aguila said.

Scott said there are several programs she has been working on that she would like to see to fruition. One involved cooperative education.

"I would like to work with the College of Marin and Indian Valley (campus) to help high schoolers who want to take general education requirements at the local level save their parents some money and enter a four-year college as a sophomore or junior," Scott said. "Parents could shave money off the tuition they have to pay, and kids would benefit as well."

Aguila mentioned safety as a top concern, saying, "If you provide a safe environment with no bullying, it will help children learn."

Garza mentioned safety as an issue as well. "We need to support groups like the Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth and their anti-bullying policies. If I'm elected, I will take a look at what policies we have in place to protect both students and teachers."

Age: 54Occupation: Strahm Communications, Marketing Solutions & Project ManagementEducation: San Rafael High SchoolExperience: Eight-year trustee Novato Unified School District; small business owner in San Rafael and Novato for 20 years

Maria Aguila

Age: 45Occupation: Social workerEducation: MS counseling psychology, Dominican University; BS in psychology, Brigham Young University-HawaiiExperience: Social worker, Marin County, 15 years; liaison for the Canal Community Organizations; volunteer for the Department of Health and Human Services in Marin; board member, Novato Unified School District trustee, since 2009

Shelly Scott

Age: 49Occupation: Deputy assessorEducation: Certified by the State Board of Equalization as a real property appraiser and auditor-appraiserExperience: Novato Unified School District trustee; Marin County Parks and Open Space Commission; Marin County Human Rights Commission